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FH Athletic Association receives $500K for athletic fields
posted 08/16/2006
Eighteen years ago Don Galt played a round of golf with a San Juan Island resident and at the end of the match he was given a check which funded the start of the Friday Harbor Athletic Association. The only requirement was the association must obtain a 501 (c) 3 non-profit status. The association constructed the building at the end of the softball fields at the elementary school on Grover Street. "Ma Browne donated lumber. Island Concrete donated concrete. People came out and helped," Galt said.
This year, through the same connection the Friday Harbor Athletic Association has received $500,000 to build the athletic fields on Carter Avenue. The only requirement was Galt had to have the permits.
Galt has been a tenacious advocate for the project perserving despite skeptics who doubted it could be done. The school district had told voters who approved the construction bonds for the school renovations, they would use approximately $400,000 as seed money for the fields, but the money was not available at the end of the renovation. Some neighbors did not want the ballfields near their homes. Island Parks and Rec Association did not have funding to help with the project.
This donation along with a $50,000 individual donation, a $25,000 individual donation, in-kind donations by contractors "means we can actually make it happen," Galt said.
The total cost of the project is expected to be $2 million. For more information about how you can become part of the Community ballfield project contact Jim Carroll at SanJuanIsland@aol.com
Field of Dreams about to come true
San Juan Builders present a big check to help build Athletic
Fields. From left to right, Gordy Petersen, Phil Schober, John Evans (SJBA
Executive Director) and Don Galt, Brian Brown (SJ athletic Association).
posted 07/28/2006
PRESS RELEASE:
Don Galt came to San Juan Island to retire. Instead he began dreaming. About 15 years ago he had an idea that changed his retirement plans entirely. The flat open grassy fields that he owned in Friday Harbor were begging to become a sports playground. Our community needed a place like this to play. So with the help of the School District he has stepped up to the plate and volunteered to turn this dream into reality.
Don says it has been a long process so far. Many people have offered to donate money and time and now it is time for the community to get involved. In order to see the project to completion many generous contributions are needed.
With their donation of $5,000. The San Juan Builders Association is proud to be among the first to donate to the Athletic Fields fund. They have helped with many community efforts like this in the Islands. They have a generous scholarship program for Island students and have provided volunteer labor and equipment to construct many worthwhile community projects.
Ball fields a go
posted 11/18/05
At the end of a three hour public hearing last night, Friday Harbor Town Councilmembers unanimously approved a conditional use permit for the San Juan Island School District's Carter Avenue property. The permit allows Friday Harbor Athletic Association to build ball fields, a parking lot, a maintenance building and restrooms on the property. The group must also raise money to complete sidewalks along Carter Avenue and to install fencing along the property.
Hearing on athletic fields tonight
posted 11/17/05
The Friday Harbor Town Council will hold a hearing regarding a conditional use permit (CUP) for construction of athletic fields on the Carter Avenue property owned by the San Juan Island School District will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 in Friday Harbor High School gym. A CUP is necessary before the fields can be built.
The school board has agreed to allow Friday Harbor Athletic Association to build the fields on the school's property. The district does not have the funds to construct fields for use by the community. District Superintendent Michael Soltman has said the district does not need fields for school use.
Last week, two playoff games were moved to Mount Vernon, because the school's football field was not in playing condition due to overuse.
Neighbors in the Carter Avenue area recently sent a letter to the town raising questions and expressing opposition to the construction of the fields. The letter included comments from the Director of Island Rec and an Island Rec board member who both live in the area.
School district, athletic association
agree on conditions for field development
By Matt Pranger
posted 08/29/05
The boards of the San Juan Island School District and the Friday Harbor Athletic Association Wednesday, Aug. 24 agreed on conditions for the association's plans to develop a community park and ball fields on school district property.
School board members voted 4-0 to proceed with an agreement with the FHAA that includes following conditions:
- All costs of development will be borne by FHAA.
- All maintenance costs will be borne by FHAA.
- The fields must be regulation athletic fields.
Attorney John Linde, who represented the FHAA, told the board the agreement would be similar to one the two boards signed in 1990. That agreement stipulated the conditions the FHAA followed in constructing a clubhouse at the elementary school fields.
FHAA plans to develop the athletic fields, located on the northern edge of Friday Harbor, in two phases. Phase I will include placing infrastructure and constructing one multi-use field, a softball field and a baseball field. Two soccer fields, another baseball field and field building are planned for Phase II. (see detailed Sequence of Work below)
The field development will have to meet Town of Friday Harbor building standards, Linde said. The project requires a conditional-use permit which will set out conditions for the fields construction.
"This is not going to be a fly-by-night project," Linde said.
Phase I is scheduled to begin this year and will cost an estimated $1.37 million to complete in 2008. The cost of Phase II is estimated at $300,000 and would be finished in 2010.
"We have a very giving community that cares for kids," Linde said of paying for the project.
Edgar and Polly Stern have pledged $50,000 toward the project and $200,000 in anonymous donations have been committed. To date, $58,000 in-kind contributions and been received and 25 businesses or individuals have said they would donate time or materials to the project.
Linde noted the San Juan Islanders have worked together on other projects, including the San Juan Community Theatre and the Inter-Island Medical Center building. "We've done it before … and I know we can do it again," Linde told the school board.
School board members wanted assurances the park would be maintained. "My concern is the maintenance down the road," said Emily Orr. Boyd Pratt suggested FHAA start an endowment fund to cover maintenance costs.
"Once we build the fields, I believe we will be able to maintain them," Linde said.
Community Park and Ball Fields
Sequence of Work
PHASE I
1. Infrastructure, Clearing and Grading
- Clear designated fields and install infrastructure
- Interior roadway and parking area
- Rough grade to Coho Drive Cul de Sac interior roadway parking and emergency exit gate
- Survey fields, roadway to determine cuts and fill requirements for fields
- Electrical, domestic water, sewer, cable, telephone
- Extension of main line water and sewer to proper designation
- Install fencing
2. Field Construction
- Construct Carter Street from Larson Street to Carter Street entrance to the fields
- Final grade to interior roadway's parking to include asphalt surface extruded concrete curbs and car stops
- Cut and fill designated fields to rough grade
- Install irrigation system
- Purchase maintenance equipment
- Finish grade to fields
- Compaction and seeding of fields
- Fencing to trailer park - need to mitigate the enhancements
PHASE II
Construct 2 Soccer Fields, 1 Baseball Field and Building
- Install irrigation system to designated areas
- Finish grade to fields in designated areas
- Compaction and seeding of fields
- Construct concession and maintenance building
Board OKs pursuit of CUP
posted 07/28/05
Last fall - September 27, 2004 - San Juan Island School Board held a meeting with people interested in developing ballfields on the district-owned property on Carter Avenue. San Juan Island resident Don Galt proposed a plan which included donated labor and materials. The plan was backed by many community members, he said.
San Juan Island School Board Chair Boyd Pratt questioned whether the community wanted fields. Determining that was the first step, he said.
John Linde said, "I've been around for a while working for kids. We
always seem to discuss what we need. I know Don and myself want to just go ahead and do something...I don’t believe there is an issue as to need. I
find it hard to believe we are still having that discussion. The scheduling (of use of the fields by teams) is insane...The
need is there and the commitment from the community is there
to support the project."
Jack Cory urged the board to obtain a grading permit, so Galt could begin work. "What is the harm in letting him loose. What is the worst case, you'd have some ground disturbed?"
Board member Emily Orr said, "We hope to go with a public agency. I
truly believe Don can get it done but I am concerned with 10 years down the road. We have to look forward to what is happening 10 years from now."
Town of Friday Harbor Land Use Administrator Mike Bertrand said, "The board is the first domino. Once you say 'OK, we give you (Don Galt) permission with these restrictions'. It is never going to go anywhere until the owner of the property gives the OK."
Last night, 308 days later, the board members declined to obtain the grading permit before the CUP process is completed. They did agree to proceed with the conditional use permit (CUP) process. A traffic study, the last piece of the CUP application, should be ready in two weeks or so, according to . Superintendent Michael Soltman. He said it would be irresponsible to proceed before the district knows the extent of the conditions the town will impose on the project. "It may end up being unaffordable," he said.
Several citizens commented on the need to move forward with the project at the July 27, 2005 meeting. By obtaining a grading permit, the district could make sure it received donated gravel and possibly some sand from LaFarge the owners of Friday Harbor Sand & Gravel.
Soltman said the 1,000 to 1,500 cubic yard donation amounted to 7 to 10 percent of the 14,000 cubic yards that the project is estimated to need. He was told earlier in the day, there was no urgency to taking possession of the material. LaFarge will store it or the county will store it for us, he said.
Harvey Brown said there is a need to take the material sooner rather than later. "Unless Michael knows something I don't know, the material will be pushed into the hole by the end of September," he said. LaFarge is finishing up reclamation of the gravel pit. "We can haul it today or not have it tomorrow," he said.
After listening to 30 minutes of comments by the public, the board cut off further citizen comment. Frank Penwell asked if the board had cut off comments at its previous meeting when supporters of the field were not in attendance. At the June meeting neighborhood residents spoke for more than 90 minutes about their concerns about traffic on the public roads that serve the property. Board member Bob Mancuso, who chaired that meeting, said the procedure used then did not set a precedent.
Board Chair Boyd Pratt allowed Janet Wilson to add a comment. She said if the grading began, the district would need to immediately fence off the property and construct a cul-de-sac. The fence would cost about $10,000 and the cul-de-sac $10 to 12,000, she said.
The board then discussed the issue. Board member Bob Mancuso said, "We've spent more more time on this in the last few months then in analyzing our budget. This is the point we are at. We are committed to this project going forward at this time. We are talking about proceeding reasonably and responsibly. We are sitting here bickering over a 10 percent donation from the gravel pit. It is important but not enough to (rush the project)."
Each board member spoke about their commitment to the project. Board member Emily Orr said, "I am so behind this. We have
got to let this go through the legal process."
Board member Heidi Lopez said,"Someone brought up the idea of co-curricular activities supporting athletics. I am behind that. The problem is how do we define the go-ahead? The CUP is a clear go-ahead."
Board member Lisa Henderson said, "I echo what Emily said. I lived in fear of losing the gravel donation. But it is not that much. We are not putting that much at risk by waiting for the CUP process to go through. We keep hearing these are community fields, but we are not getting commitments from Island Rec for maintenance. It is a real concern."
Boyd Pratt said, "Other members have spoken eloquently. The most reasonable approach is with the CUP. I don't see a rush concerning the fields." He noted the board wants to see fields done to standards "we would impose if we had done it ourselves."
The board agreed with Soltman's recommendation to not obtain a grading permit now, but wait until the conditional use permit process was completed. The district is proceeding with a CUP application citing Carter Avenue as the access street and Coho Drive as an emergency entrance.
Superintendent, two board members to visit neighborhood
posted 07/22/05
San Juan Island School Board Chair Boyd Pratt, vice-chair Bob Mancuso and Supeintendent Michael Soltman will meet with residents of the neighborhood around the school's Carter Avenue property Friday afternoon. The meeting is set for 4 p.m. at Lee Sturdivant's house at 745A Larson. Asked in a phone interview Thursday night if others could attend, Pratt said, " They can if they want to. This is not a declared board meeting."
The neighborhood residents have been vocal on their opposition to the district using Carter Avenue or Larson Street, (both are public roads) to access the Carter Avenue property. "We'd like to hear some solutions," Pratt said. Asked if he believed the fields would be built, Pratt said, "Yeah, I do."
Athletic fields on slower track
By Sharon Kivisto
posted 07/01/05
After listening to opposition from several residents of the Carter Avenue neighborhoods, San Juan Island School District Board of Directors decided not to proceed with grading of the school district's property until after the Conditional Use Permit process is completed. The district can grade and clear property legally before obtaining a CUP. Organizer Don Galt wanted to begin work on the road and parking lot while weather conditions are dry. The decision puts a donation of material from the gravel pit in jeopardy.
Friday Harbor Sand & Gravel's offer to donate a nominal amount of material to get the project started has a very limited timeline. The material would be used to help construct the driveway and parking lot. The gravel pit reclamation will be completed within the next two months. The donation of pit runs has to be worked into the reclamation schedule. If grading and clearing are delayed the material will not be available, according to Doug Higginson of FHS&G.
The school board's decision was made during its regular June 29, 2005 school board meeting. Proponents of development of the athletic fields were not in attendance. The item was listed on the agenda as "Carter Field Update." Larsen Street resident Lee Sturdivant invited neighbors opposed to the project to attend the meeting. The board listened to a litany of complaints for more than an hour before making its decision.
School Superintendent Michael Soltman said the next step is for the district to complete its CUP application. A traffic study must be completed before the application is submitted. The sticking point is the "declaration of access."
Several of the neighbors have petitioned the town and lobbied the school board to not use the public street which leads into the school's property. Sturdivant suggested the school purchase some of the Town and Country mobile home park property and use it for a road.
Soltman said the district might opt to list Carter Avenue and Larsen Road via Beaverton Valley Road as access points. An emergency entrance through a Village Grove cul-de-sac would be included in the traffic study. A yet to be determined entrance from Roche Harbor Road would be listed as a potential access point. Soltman planned to ask Town Administrator King Fitch and Town Land Use Administrator Mike Bertrand if separate studies would need to be done on each access point.
Currently the school's property is accessible by driving down Larsen Street to Carter Avenue; by driving down Harbor Street to Carter Avenue; or by driving from Guard Street to Carter Avenue.
The time it takes to complete the application and the CUP process, "puts at risk getting anything done this year," Soltman said. He does believe the board made the right decision in deciding to wait until the entire public process is completed.
Once the district submits its completed CUP application, a 30-day public comment period will take place. Then a hearing will be scheduled. The Friday Harbor Town Council will decide what conditions need to be imposed before it will issue a permit for development of athletic fields.
Fields wanted, traffic not
By Matt Pranger
posted 06/22/05
About 125 islanders attending a June 16, 2005 meeting agreed San Juan Island needs more athletic fields. The attendees disagreed on the best way to access a proposed athletic park in Friday Harbor.
Several residents living near the San Juan Island School District-owned property strenuously objected to traffic accessing the site through the Carson/Larson-street area.
Larson Street resident Susie Doyle told school board members "don't rush into something. Don't ruin our neighborhood."
"I wish we had done this a lot earlier," Larson Street resident Lee Sturdivant said near the end of the two-hour meeting. "We should take tonight as a beginning. We don't have to settle this tonight."
Tom Starr, an engineer, encouraged the school district to start a conditional-use permit process. "Traffic will be studied" during the CUP process, said the former county commissioner.
"We need these fields….We can mitigate most, if not all the concerns I've heard tonight," said former Friday Harbor mayor Bill LaPorte.
Don Galt Sr., who plans to develop the fields with donations of labor, materials and money, is seeking the school district's approval to begin construction. The school board hosted the meeting to "get a feel for what the community wants," said Superintendent Michael Soltman.
The school district is contributing the use of the land to the project but can not help fund the ball fields' development, Soltman said. He said the school district has enough fields for their own programs but there is considerable use of the school fields by community groups.
Galt resolved the question of whether islanders want fields or not when he asked anyone who is opposed to their construction to stand up. No one stood. "There isn't anybody who doesn't want fields," Galt said.
Carter Avenue was considered the main access route in 1997 when voters approved a bond for the school to purchase the property for ball fields and future school construction, Galt said.
Using that route is unacceptable to many residents living on Carter, Larson, Terra Bella and other streets in the area. Proposed access through there would lead to "decreased quality of life, decreased safety" and greater noise, said Barbara Starr who presented a petition signed by 32 residents.
Starr said the existing streets proposed for access "are small roads and are not intended to bear a large volume of traffic."
Jason Miniken said his family walks on Carter and Larson daily and the additional traffic would make it hard for his family to walk those streets.
Janet Wilson, a Larson Street resident, said former school district Superintendent Steve Enoch told the neighborhood the school would not access the site from Larson and Carter. She noted the area is the most densely populated area in Friday Harbor and has many small children. She recommended the site be accessed from Tucker Avenue between Village Grove and the mobile home park.
"It's better to design something safe and adequate rather than rush into it," Wilson said.
Woody Jepsen, a Foxhall resident, said he supports ball fields but was concerned about Larson Street being extended to Beaverton Valley Road.
Friday Harbor Councilwoman Carrie Brooks, who lives on Harbor Street, questioned why the fields were not built at the old gravel pit. "I don't know if there's an answer to that," responded meeting moderator John Linde. Brooks found it interesting that a "high-end" neighborhood near the gravel pit will not have ball fields but a "low-end" neighborhood might.
Brooks said the Carter/Larson area has 10 percent of the population of Friday Harbor" and the streets are "horrible."
"We may be low-income but we are high in heart and spirit," Therese Finn said.
Marie Di Cristina, a Foxhall resident, is concerned about the view from her neighborhood changing if trees are cut down. She recommended the fields be accessed from Roche Harbor Road.
Laura Chorba, a Terra Bella Lane resident, supports field construction but opposes access through Larson or Carter. "I'd like to see improvement of the roads before getting started on the fields," she said.
"With property rights come responsibilities to our community, environment and our neighbors," Jim Skoog told the school board.
Several people spoke in favor of the fields, saying the neighborhood is an appropriate location and access issues can be resolved.
"I think everybody agrees that there is a need for fields," said Brendan Cowan, a coach for four years. "My challenge to the neighborhood is: What's the solution?"
Cowan suggested islanders meet and decide on the best route to the fields. "The reality is, this isn't rocket science…. Change is constant and it happens twice as fast in the islands," he said.
Susan Schwinge said more than 400 children play soccer in the fall and the high school varsity field is not of regulation size. "We need fields. We need a decent soccer field," Schwinge said.
"There is a tremendous need for fields," said former school board member Dr. David Eden, noting Friday Harbor High School's football field is overused.
Eden, a family therapist, said the community doesn't have enough prevention programs and the fields would provide a positive outlet for Friday Harbor's children. He also predicted the property values in the area would "skyrocket" if the fields were built.
"This is an opportunity the district can't afford to pass up," said Frank Penwell.
Tammy Ashcroft suggested improving Carter and Larson. "Let's make the streets good that are coming into the ball fields," she said.
Schools will be here in "perpetuity," said David McCauley. He suggested starting the field construction while figuring out the access issue.
Harvey Brown, a youth football coach, said the high school likely won't be able to use its current field on property owned by the Catholic Church and other fields are overused. "Sports programs will fail if we don't support them," he said.
Steve Cutting, a Foxhall resident, said community volunteers' efforts at the elementary school and high school baseball/softball fields have made a "vast improvement." However, Cutting said that "a community rich in talent and money" does not have enough fields is "an embarrassment."
Sam Buck Sr., a resident of San Juan Island for 78 years, projected up to $1.5 million could be raised quickly for the ball field construction. "I know there are people who have to give their money away for tax purposes," he said.
Buck disagreed with those who wanted to proceed slowly. "We're in a panic to get started," Buck said.
Linde suggested those with opinions write them down and send them to the school board. The board members are not "trying to shove this down anyone's throat," he said.
Public invited to discussion
of fields June 17
posted 06/09/05
San Juan Island School Board wants to hear from the community about the development of fields on its Carter Avenue property. Board Chair Boyd Pratt said the board is fully behind the community's desire to have athletic fields but is stymied by the neighborhood's opposition to traffic on Carter Avenue. "We will need access through somebody’s neighborhood," Pratt said.
The 30 acres is bordered by Village Grove on the east and Foxhall on the west. The Village Grove plat has restrictions which limit access to the school's parcel to emergency use only. A breakaway gate would be installed at the cul-de-sac for emergency access.
Neighbors in the Carter/Larson neighborhood have signed petitions against the school district using Carter Avenue - a public road - to access the property. Lee Sturdivant says the former school superintendent promised the neighbors the public road would not be used. There is no written documentation and former board members have no knowledge of any such agreement.
Larsen Road has been designated as an arterial on the town's transportation plan since the 1970s. It would connect Tucker Avenue and Beaverton Valley Road. Neighborhood opposition has kept the arterial from being opened.
The school board has filed an application for a conditional use permit from the Town of Friday Harbor regarding construction of athletic fields. The next step is for the district to complete the application and ask for a public hearing.
San Juan Island resident Don Galt has gathered materials - $250,000 worth from Lafarge, volunteer labor and use of equipment from contractors, financial contributions from islanders for the project. He urged the school board to contact the town and get going on the project before the contributions go away. Construction of the fields would not cost the district any money.
The board agreed to hold a community meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 17 at the high school commons to discuss the project. Board member Emily Orr said, "After the meeting we need to make a decision rather quickly. Someone is going to be unhappy."
Board member Bob Mancuso said, "To be effective
all the interested parties have to be there (at the meeting). We have to get the user groups to come and take a leadership role. We need them to become more vocal."
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